Yugioh [534-539] (Patreon)

Chapter 534: The Macro Cosmos Activates

Necroface, ATK 3300!

Seeing the panel of the ghastly, corpse-like monster in front of him suddenly soar above the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Lyman couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

A monster of a similar type to his own—or rather, the exact opposite.

Whether it's the Golden Homunculus he just used, or his signature Helios series, their common trait is to accumulate attack power based on the number of banished cards.

But this Necroface is the opposite; it gains attack by shuffling all banished monsters back into the deck. Their mechanics clash—against Lyman's alchemy deck, it's basically the worst-case scenario.

Lyman exhaled a long, heavy breath.

"But 'Necroface' is a DARK attribute," Lyman squinted, reminding him. "You haven't forgotten, right?"

"Of course not." Kira nodded, glancing at the Continuous Trap on Lyman's field: Elemental Absorber.

Elemental Absorber lets you banish a monster from your hand to block attacks from all monsters with that Attribute. Earlier, Lyman had banished the DARK "Luna the Dark Spirit" using this trap.

Though Luna has now been shuffled back into the deck by Necroface, the effect of Elemental Absorber remains active. The complex device on Lyman's field still flickered with dark light, making all DARK-attribute attacks futile.

"Then I activate the Spell Card 'Remove Trap'," Kira said, "to destroy a face-up Trap Card on the field. I'll destroy 'Elemental Absorber.'"

Lyman's backrow Trap card shattered, and the dark barrier and device exploded.

Lyman shielded himself from the blast and said helplessly, "So this level of defense really can't easily withstand the king's assault?"

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Wonder Clover'," Kira said. "I discard a Level 4 Plant-Type monster from my hand, then choose one monster on my field—it can attack twice this turn, but my other monsters can't attack. Not that I have any others anyway."

Kira smiled, revealing a card from his hand.

"I discard the Level 4 Plant-Type 'Mystic Tomato' to let 'Necroface' attack twice this turn."

"ATK 3300, and it can attack twice?" Lyman seemed a bit tense.

"Battle," Kira said. "Necroface attacks 'Golden Homunculus.'"

Tentacles shot out from the shattered head of the Necroface, binding the golden homunculus. The creepy doll face suddenly opened its mouth, spewing black mist that engulfed the artificial lifeform, corroding and crushing it while dragging it into its mouth to be ground to dust.

"Ugh—"

[Lyman, LP 2000 → LP 200]

Lyman staggered from the impact of the black mist, half-kneeling and clutching his chest.

"Impressive."

"Second attack incoming. Watch out, professor," Kira said. "Direct attack with Necroface."

The round, staring eyes of the doll seemed to flash with bloodlust. The tentacles shot straight for Lyman, as if to devour him as cruelly as the monster before.

"Going to swallow the professor too, huh? Brutal—cough, cough."

Lyman covered his chest, coughing twice. Clearly, his body was already frail, and the real damage from the Shadow Duel had made it worse.

"But the professor can't fall so easily yet." Still half-kneeling, he raised his right hand. "I activate my Set card, Trap Card 'Power Wall!'"

"Oh?" Kira raised his eyebrows.

Professor, why are you using Zane's card?

"'Power Wall'—when taking battle damage, for every 100 points, send the top card of your deck to the Graveyard. Battle damage becomes 0!" (Anime effect)

Lyman pulled a huge chunk of cards from his deck.

"So I send 33 cards from my deck to the Graveyard, and the battle damage becomes 0!"

The flying cards formed a shield, blocking Necroface's attack. But the cards didn't fall; instead, guided by an invisible force, they spun into a vortex and were sucked into Lyman's Chaos Distill.

"Chaos Distill's effect," Lyman smiled. "Since this card is on the field, cards sent to the Graveyard go out of play instead."

"So this turn, including the destroyed 'Golden Homunculus,' 'Elemental Absorber,' 'Power Wall,' and those 33 cards—all get banished!"

A total of 36 cards!

"Just like that, your banished resources are back up," Kira smiled. "Impressive as always, Professor Lyman. You immediately neutralized Necroface's threat."

"Heh, you're not bad yourself. That sudden burst almost put me out for good—dangerous indeed."

"Haha, all thanks to your teaching."

Kira humbly replied.

"I'll set two cards and end my turn."

"Then it's my turn—draw!"

He played the card he drew.

"Spell Card 'Akashic Record.' Draw two cards from the deck, but if any have already been used in this duel, banish them." (Anime Card)

 "At this moment, 'Appropriate's effect,'" Kira said. "I also draw two cards."

Lyman glanced at his draws, then slowly raised his head, eyes narrowing again.

He usually squints behind thick glasses, looking harmless and cowardly, always ready to run away at the first sign of trouble.

But now, even with the same glasses and squint, he seemed like a sheathed sword, ready to strike at any moment.

"Facing the king of the dueling world, a single misstep and I'll be finished," he muttered, adjusting his glasses. "Maybe in this duel, the real challenger being tested is me."

He raised his hand, his red pupils flashing briefly.

"Continuous Trap—'Macro Cosmos!'"

Lyman's signature legendary trap instantly pulled the whole duel field into the endless cosmos. Stars glittered, with both duelists seemingly standing on opposite ends of a starry sea, separated by a boundless Milky Way.

"While Macro Cosmos is on the field, all cards sent to the Graveyard are banished instead. And, I Special Summon this monster from my deck."

Lyman clenched his fist, and it was as if a fire dragon burst out from his deck.

"Appear!

Helios - The Primordial Sun!!!"

Chapter 535: Helios

Helios - The Primordial Sun, summoned!

Though called the sun, it has a vaguely human torso, like white bandages wrapped around a transparent body, with a burning sun floating above its neck.

[Helios - The Primordial Sun, ATK ?]

"Helios's effect: its attack becomes the number of banished monsters x 100." Lyman smiled. "Counting everything, I have 37 banished cards, of which 21 are monsters."

"So, Helios now has 2100 ATK!"

[Helios - The Primordial Sun, ATK ? → ATK 2100]

"Now I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Planet Alignment!'" Lyman said. "You can only activate this if Macro Cosmos is on your field. Destroy all monsters on your opponent's field and inflict 300 damage!" (Anime-only card)

Planet Alignment—one of Lyman's anime-only board wipes for Macro Cosmos. Similar to the Quick-Play Spell "Grand Convergence," which destroys all monsters on both sides and deals 300 damage, but Planet Alignment only hits the opponent.

The spell activated, and the planets in the endless cosmos began to move. A string of planets aligned into a long row, releasing a powerful gravity wave that instantly crushed Kira's ghastly Necroface under its weight.

[Kira, LP 2500 → LP 2200]

"Since Macro Cosmos is on the field, when Necroface is destroyed, it's banished instead," Kira said calmly. "When Necroface is banished, both players banish five cards from the top of their decks."

This effect is mandatory and triggers automatically.

Lyman drew five cards from his deck, glanced at them, and tossed them into the void. They vanished, swallowed by the endless Macro Cosmos.

"Two more of those were monsters," Lyman smiled. "So I now have 23 banished monsters, and Helios's ATK increases by 200."

[Helios - The Primordial Sun, ATK 2100 → ATK 2300]

"Not over yet. I activate the Spell 'Yellow Process - Kitolenics'!" (Anime-only card)

Lyman revealed another Spell.

"'Yellow Process' can only be activated if you have Helios - The Primordial Sun on the field," Lyman said. "Tribute Helios to Special Summon its evolved form from your hand or deck!"

A golden light engulfed Helios, the brilliant radiance nearly illuminating the entire cosmos. The light gathered on the bandaged body, which seemed to swell and grow larger.

If anything, it now looked like a bandaged mummy that got... chubbier.

 Still, a burning sun floated above its bandaged neck, but now there was a smaller sun too, like a sun-mother and sun-child.

[Helios Duo Megistus, ATK ?]

"Helios Duo Megistus's ATK is the number of your banished monsters x 200," Lyman said.

Kira nodded, "So it's just double the Helios's ATK?"

"Correct," Lyman smiled. "And since Helios was tributed, Macro Cosmos banishes it instead of sending it to the Graveyard."

"So now my number of banished monsters is 24, so Helios Duo Megistus's ATK is..."

[Helios Duo Megistus, ATK ? → ATK 4800]

"ATK 4800," Kira said. "Stronger than Obelisk the Tormentor. Impressive, professor."

"Heh, this is just the beginning,"

Lyman squinted and smiled.

"Macro Cosmos's power is far more mysterious than that."

"Against the king himself, I must show my full strength."

He opened his eyes again, red light flickering within.

"Watch closely, Kira."

"This is Helios's truly perfect evolution, its ultimate form."

"I activate the Spell 'Red Process - Rubedo!'" (Anime-only card)

A red light engulfed the Helios Duo Megistus, evolving them once more!

 Like a star evolving over eons, the power of alchemy transcended time. The sun rapidly evolved, the bandaged body splitting into three, becoming three child-sized forms, each with a burning sun above its head.

"Three bodies, huh?" Kira raised an eyebrow.

"This is 'Helios Trice Megistus!'" Lyman declared. "Helios's strongest and ultimate form—the true power of Macro Cosmos!"

He sounded proud, like an alchemist introducing his life's masterpiece.

"You're a prodigy, Kira, with a pioneering spirit I've never seen before." Lyman smiled. "You noticed Macro Cosmos's power early on."

"But even so, that's just the surface. You've never seen the true power hidden in this mysterious Macro Cosmos!"

Kira pondered.

The true power?

But professor, I still think 'banishing all cards' sounds more impressive than your fancy suns...

[Helios Trice Megistus, ATK ?]

"Helios Trice Megistus's ATK—Kira, you've probably guessed already?" Lyman chuckled. "Its ATK increases by 300 for each of your banished monsters."

"Also, since Helios Duo Megistus was tributed for Red Process, Macro Cosmos banishes it instead of sending it to the Graveyard."

"So now, I have 25 banished monsters."

"Thus, Helios Trice Megistus's ATK is..."

[Helios Trice Megistus, ATK ? → ATK 7500]

ATK 7500!

 "This is the sun god's true form, its greatest power! The pinnacle of alchemy, a force that can defeat even gods!"

Lyman clenched his fist and proclaimed.

"Battle phase!"

"If you can withstand Helios Trice Megistus's finishing blow, prove it to me!"

Chapter 536: Helios Trice Megistus

"Battle phase!"

"Helios Trice Megistus, direct attack!"

ATK 7500, and Kira only has 2200 Life Points left—enough to wipe him out several times over.

The three burning suns seemed to ignite at once, their divine light gathering in their hands. The bandages fluttered, as if about to be set alight, transforming into a fire dragon that shot across the field toward Kira.

But the fire dragon struck an invisible barrier!

A powerful shockwave, blue light flashing brilliantly. A nearly invisible, seemingly fragile but indestructible dome-shaped barrier shone with dazzling brilliance, like the brightest star in the night sky or the purest sapphire gleaming in the deep sea.

Mirror Force—The Sacred Barrier!

"Mirror Force?"

Lyman raised his arm to shield his eyes, frowning.

"Correct," Kira said. "Mirror Force—when your opponent declares an attack, destroy all their Attack Position monsters!"

The ultimate shield, a desperate counterattack!

 The searing flames swallowed all three suns, destroying their bodies in the sacred light.

But...

"A beautiful counterattack, worthy of the Duel King's defense," Lyman smiled. "But unfortunately, you're facing the sun."

"And the sun is immortal!"

As he spoke, the ashes of the burned suns rapidly reformed. The stars ignited, the three bodies reappeared, each with a blazing sun overhead, shining even brighter than before!

"Revival ability?" Kira frowned.

He vaguely remembered Helios Trice Megistus could revive, but only the TCG version.

In the TCG, Helios Trice Megistus returns from the Graveyard at the end of the turn if destroyed by battle, gaining 500 ATK/DEF.

But here, Helios Trice Megistus was destroyed by an effect, banished by Macro Cosmos, and it's still the battle phase—none of the TCG's conditions are met.

He thought the anime version would be stronger but doubted all three conditions would be bypassed.

But he underestimated the anime effect.

"Helios Trice Megistus's effect," Lyman said. "When this card is destroyed, Special Summon it with 500 extra ATK!"

[Helios Trice Megistus, ATK 7500 → ATK 8000]

"So it gets even stronger," Kira said.

"Exactly. The sun is immortal," Lyman smiled. "Every time it's defeated, it only grows stronger!

 And since we're still in the battle phase, its number of attacks resets, so it can attack again!"

"Go, Helios Trice Megistus—direct attack once more!"

The three burning suns blazed again, flames gathering in their hands. Three fire dragons shot out, merging in the air into an undying phoenix!

The blazing phoenix soared across the field at Kira, its heat almost palpable even across the galaxy.

"Then I activate the Trap 'Defense Draw'," Kira said. "All battle damage this time becomes 0, and then I draw a card."

A milky, transparent shield appeared before Kira. The fire phoenix struck the shield and quickly dissipated into nothing.

Kira drew a card.

"Hahaha, even more counters? As expected of Kira—not so easy to defeat!"

Lyman laughed, then squinted.

"But now that Helios Trice Megistus is out, victory is already within my grasp.

Helios Trice Megistus has 8000 ATK and is immortal! Every time you defeat it, it only grows stronger!"

"Impressive," Kira nodded.

Back in these days, before mass removal effects became common, destruction resistance was a big deal.

The anime Helios Trice Megistus has both battle and effect destruction immunity, and its revival doesn't require going to the Graveyard. As long as it's destroyed, even if banished, it comes back.

And it gains 500 ATK every time—getting stronger the more you try.

Compared to its nerfed TCG version, this is a real boss monster, fitting its tough summoning requirements.

You can't judge a monster's strength without considering how hard it is to summon. That was true then, and it's still true even in today's fast-paced game.

If you ignore consistency and only look at end boards, even casual decks can make crazy boards stronger than meta decks.

Who doesn't have an "invincible" end board these days?

Lyman's Helios Trice Megistus looks strong, but you need Macro Cosmos, then summon Helios, and then two specific spells to evolve it. That's not easy.

"My turn is over," Lyman said. "Your move, Kira! Show me your potential..."

But then he smiled.

"No, for you, it's not potential—it's a king's bearing, isn't it?"

"An 8000 ATK immortal monster sure puts on the pressure, professor."

Kira smiled.

"Well, I am your student, after all. No matter how hard the problem, I can't let you down. My turn—draw."

Kira revealed his hand.

"Spell Card 'Card of Adversity.' If your opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and you control no monsters, draw 2 cards." (Anime card)

Kira drew two cards, then calmly played another.

"I summon 'Shutendoji' in Defense Position."

[Shutendoji, DEF 800]

"Shutendoji's effect: once per turn, return one of your banished Zombie monsters to the top of your deck."

Lyman's eyelids twitched.

A banished Zombie... could it be...

"Of course," Kira smiled, revealing a card. "I put 'Necroface' back on top of my deck."

Lyman: "..."

Chapter 537: The Past That Won't Return

Shutendoji, the mythological demon famed for his love of drink. Despite being called a child, the monster he summons is an ugly, red-faced, fanged ogre with wild hair, horns, and a huge sake gourd imprinted with the character for "sake."

In the manga, this was Bastion Misawa's monster from his youkai deck, built mostly from Japanese mythic creatures. Of course, in Kira's hands, it's been upgraded to a Zombie-type with its real-life effect.

Shutendoji took a gulp of fiery sake, then slammed his fist into the ground, creating a huge crater. The eerie Necroface, which should have disappeared from the game, suddenly flew back into Kira's deck, landing right on top.

Lyman's expression turned grave again.

That Necroface, again.

Like with the Golden Homunculus before, his Helios Trice Megistus was restrained by the Necroface—in fact, even more so. The Homunculus, even after its banished cards were shuffled back, at least had its base 1500 ATK left. But his Helios Trice Megistus's original ATK is "?". If its banished cards are emptied by Necroface, it goes from ace boss monster to an indestructible punching bag.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Harpie's Feather Duster!'" Kira declared. "Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on your side of the field!"

Lyman's pupils shrank.

"Feather Duster? At this moment!?"

The Feather Duster appeared in mid-air, lightly sweeping. A storm of feathers rose, and the huge alchemical cauldron on Lyman's field collapsed with a bang.

Even the whole starry sky on the field seemed to tremble, stars falling, celestial bodies crumbling, the Milky Way shredded, until all of the cosmos dissolved into nothingness.

"With that, both the Chaos Distill and Macro Cosmos are destroyed." Kira smiled. "You can't banish new cards, professor."

"Ugh…"

Lyman gritted his teeth.

He'd prepared himself for a tough duel with Kira, but still couldn't help but marvel at the difficulty. He'd already defended against Imperial Iron Wall—a hard counter—yet here came Necroface, the ultimate anti-alchemy monster, and even Shutendoji to recycle banished cards! Clearly, Kira had accounted for Necroface being banished and would recover it.

Like many top duelists, Lyman's deck had two nearly independent engines: the Alchemy Beast engine, centered on the Chaos Distill, and the Helios engine, centered on Macro Cosmos.

But now, one Feather Duster swept both away. Next turn, if Necroface comes out and empties his banished pile, he'll be left with no resources and have to face a super-powerful Necroface—comeback will be near impossible.

"I set a card and end my turn," said Kira.

Lyman let out a long breath.

"You've really set me a difficult problem, Kira." He squinted again. "If Necroface reappears next turn, I'm finished. Looks like getting this Seven Key won't be so easy."

"Actually, I'm curious," Kira asked. "Why did you join the Shadow Riders, professor? How did you meet Chairman Kagemaru, and why are you willing to work for him?"

A flash of surprise crossed Lyman's eyes as he looked at Kira.

"You even know about the Chairman?"

Even most Shadow Riders executives only knew his true identity. Yet this supposed outsider, Kira, exposed it so casually.

"Yes, I know. But it doesn't help." Kira shrugged. "That old guy's been missing a long time. I can't find him."

Lyman gave a dry laugh, then broke into a fit of coughing, sounding like a dying old man. He coughed for a long while before recovering.

"Yeah… I don't know where the Chairman is, either. Nobody does. Lately, he's started… cough… not even trusting me."

"Sounds like you two had a special relationship," Kira said.

"We did." Lyman sighed. "Well, since you know so much, I suppose there's no harm in telling you.

Yes, I knew Chairman Kagemaru before the Shadow Riders even formed.

We were both gifted, both ambitious, determined to use our abilities to accomplish something great. We used different names, different identities, saved lives, fought demons, and battled evil lurking in the world's darkest corners—"

He looked up, eyes filled with memories.

"But things changed," Kira said. "Your relationship changed, too, right?"

"Yes… why was that? I suppose… it's death."

Lyman smiled.

"Yes, who truly fears nothing? After a lifetime, your once-passionate ambitions and naïve dreams seem laughable in hindsight.

He and I, in the end, just wanted to keep living."

He shook his head, looking at Kira again.

"But that's all in the past. If you win, maybe I'll tell you more. For now… it's my turn, draw!"

Lyman focused on the duel again, frowning slightly after his draw.

Kira's field only had a defending Shutendoji. Even if Helios Trice Megistus destroyed it, no damage would be done. Next turn, Kira could summon Necroface, and Helios Trice Megistus would immediately become a 0-ATK dud, easily finished off.

And he had no other monsters in hand to attack with…

 No, most of his deck's monsters were Alchemy Beasts. With the Chaos Distill gone, even if he drew them, he couldn't summon them.

His only chance…

"I activate the Spell Card 'Advance Draw'!" Lyman declared. "Tribute a Level 8 or higher monster on your field to draw two cards.

I tribute my Level 8 'Helios Trice Megistus' and draw two cards!"

Helios Trice Megistus, with its 8000 ATK, burned away its last radiance as all three bodies melted in the searing light. Lyman drew two cards.

"Is that okay, giving up your ace card?" Kira smiled.

"An ace is useless if it can't break the deadlock." Lyman smiled. "Rather than cling to it and wait to die, I'd rather sacrifice it now and create a new chance.

An alchemist can't be bound by rigid rules. I think you know that too."

He glanced at his two new cards, then smiled again.

"Watch carefully—this is… cough… your professor's last lesson!"

Chapter 538: The Final Lesson

"This is your final lesson!"

Clearly, Lyman's new cards offered hope—a counter to Necroface.

"But you haven't forgotten, have you, professor?" Kira smiled. "I still have the Continuous Trap 'Appropriate' on my field. Whenever you draw cards by a card effect outside your Draw Phase, I also draw two cards.

And you just drew two from 'Advance Draw'."

Kira drew his cards.

"So I also get to draw two!"

"I know," Lyman chuckled. "Don't underestimate your professor.

And naturally, the top card of your deck is the 'Necroface' you put there last turn with Shutendoji."

Kira: "Oh?"

Lyman's tone implied he'd calculated even the two-card draw from Appropriate.

That meant one of the cards Lyman drew was probably…

"I activate the Spell Card 'Card Destruction!'" Lyman declared. "Both players discard their entire hands, then draw the same number of cards!"

"As I thought."

Kira wasn't surprised. He discarded his hand and drew two.

"Which means the 'Necroface' you just drew must also be discarded," Lyman said. "And Necroface can only activate its effect when normally summoned—returning cards to the deck.

So even if you use 'Monster Reborn' or similar to revive it, you can't use that effect."

"Nice move. You even accounted for my Appropriate draw." Kira smiled. "But you didn't forget, did you? 'Card Destruction' lets both players discard their hands and draw an equal number. That's another instance of 'drawing outside the Draw Phase.'"

"Of course."

Lyman nodded, discarding and drawing again.

"So, thanks to 'Appropriate,' you get to draw two more cards."

Kira drew.

"But if you think my deck only has Golden Homunculus and Helios as its threats, you're underestimating me!

From my hand, I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'A Deal with Dark Ruler'!

 This card can only be activated when a Level 8 or higher monster you control is sent from the field to the Graveyard—Special Summon this card from your deck—"

"Appear! Berserk Dragon!"

A pitch-black storm—death itself coalesced into a dark whirlwind! The black dragon roared, radiating the stench of decay.

[Berserk Dragon, ATK 3500]

"Then I equip it with 'Lucky Iron Axe.' The equipped monster gains 500 ATK!"

[Berserk Dragon, ATK 3500 → 4000]

"Attack 'Shutendoji'!"

A breath of death, capable of corroding all. Shutendoji was instantly shattered, vanishing in a cloud of death.

Kira raised his arm to shield himself, smiling slightly.

"Summoning a powerful monster to retaliate right away—you're impressive, professor."

"Hehe, naturally."

Lyman chuckled, but kept his thoughts to himself.

Still, this shouldn't be too tough for Kira to overcome, right?

 He looked at his final card—Mirror Force.

To finish with the same card as Kira, as a final play, seemed fitting.

"I set a card," Lyman said. "But Berserk Dragon has a drawback—its ATK decreases by 500 at the end of each turn."

[Berserk Dragon, ATK 4000 → 3500]

"My turn is over."

"My turn, draw," Kira said. "I summon 'Jinzo - Jector.'"

[Jinzo - Jector, ATK 800]

"Jinzo?"

Lyman frowned, sensing trouble.

"Jinzo - Jector's effect," Kira said. "By tributing itself, I can add a Jinzo monster from my deck to my hand.

I add 'Jinzo' to my hand."

He pointed to Lyman's backrow.

"Then, I can look at all face-down Spell/Trap Cards you control."

A scanning beam from Jinzo revealed Lyman's face-down card: Mirror Force.

"Oh, so you saw it all?" Lyman smiled. "Yes, my last set card is Mirror Force, the so-called ultimate shield.

Now that you know, how will you respond?"

"Jector's next effect—For each Trap card revealed in your opponent's backrow, Special Summon that many Jinzo monsters from your hand."

Kira displayed the card he'd just searched.

"Special Summon 'Jinzo!'"

[Jinzo, ATK 2400]

Surrounded by surging electricity, Jinzo appeared, a psychic forcefield radiating from him.

Trap Lock!

"I see, Jinzo is indeed a trap nemesis. My Mirror Force can't be activated." Lyman coughed, then laughed.

"But even so, Jinzo can't match my Berserk Dragon in power."

"I know. But this is where your 'Card Destruction' helped me," Kira smiled.

"Oh?"

"I activate the Ritual Spell 'Super Soldier Ritual' from my graveyard!"

Lyman frowned. "You can activate a Ritual Spell from the graveyard?"

"Super Soldier Ritual—by banishing a LIGHT and a DARK monster from your graveyard, Special Summon a Black Luster Soldier Ritual monster from your hand, ignoring summoning conditions.

I banish the DARK 'Kuriboh' and the LIGHT 'Magician of Faith' discarded by Card Destruction.

One soul guides the light, one soul guides the darkness. The gates of chaos open—

—Legendary warrior, Black Luster Soldier, summon!"

[Black Luster Soldier, ATK 3000]

"Summoning Black Luster Soldier at the end, huh?" Lyman smiled. "One of your original ace monsters, and also a signature card of the previous Duel King. Fitting for this duel's finish.

But Berserk Dragon still has 3500 ATK—Black Luster Soldier can't defeat it."

"How do you know if you don't try?" Kira smiled.

"Hm?" Lyman frowned.

"Battle." Kira waved. "Black Luster Soldier attacks Berserk Dragon!"

"Nani?" Lyman was shocked. "Attacking even with lower ATK?"

But monsters never question their master. Black Luster Soldier charged, sword raised, straight at the giant dragon!

"Interesting," Lyman said. "Then I will also respond with full force.

Berserk Dragon, counterattack!"

Berserk Dragon roared, unleashing a wave of chaotic death to clash with Black Luster Soldier's sword.

"'Mirror Force' activates upon your opponent's attack declaration, destroying all their attack position monsters," Kira said.

"But with Jinzo on my field, you can't activate Trap Cards."

Lyman nodded. "True."

"So next is damage calculation." Kira revealed another card. "Quick-Play Spell—'Forbidden Chalice.'

Target a monster on the field; it gains 400 ATK, but its effects are negated."

"400 ATK up?" Lyman frowned. "Even so, Black Luster Soldier would still have less ATK—"

"No, I'm targeting Jinzo!"

Lyman: "!"

[Jinzo, ATK 2400 → 2800]

The 400 ATK boost to Jinzo was meaningless—but Lyman immediately understood: the point was not the ATK, but negating Jinzo's effect!

"You're negating Jinzo's effect!?" Lyman gasped.

"Exactly. With Jinzo's effect negated, Traps can be activated. But the attack declaration window has passed, so Mirror Force can't be activated anymore."

Lyman's pupils shrank.

He… blocked Mirror Force's window…

 "So I activate my set card—Trap Card 'Ambush Shield!'" Kira raised his hand. "Tribute a monster on your field; add its DEF to another monster's ATK." (Anime card)

 A trap even used by Atem in the anime.

"I tribute Jinzo, add its 1500 DEF to Black Luster Soldier's ATK!"

[Black Luster Soldier, ATK 3000 → 4500]

Lyman looked up at the surging Black Luster Soldier, sword blazing with kingly power, briefly dazed.

"He blocked Mirror Force, and then used a trap to power up for the finishing blow?"

"Holding the ultimate shield, yet forced to watch as this sword descends… I see."

"This is the king."

He closed his eyes at last, smiling in relief.

"Ha… In the end, I still lost."

[Lyman, LP 200 → LP 0]

Chapter 539: The True Meaning of Alchemy

Lyman fell to his knees, exhaling deeply.

"I lost…"

He looked up at Kira, not resentful, just smiling wryly—maybe even a bit gratified.

This duel hadn't been a smooth one for him. His strategy was constantly checked, his deck consistently countered. Every move seemed to be anticipated and neutralized with ease.

For a duelist, this was a defeat. But for a professor, perhaps not.

For a professor—especially one near his end—the greatest comfort is seeing his student surpass him.

"Thank you for not holding back, professor."

Kira walked to the center, putting away his duel disk, and helped Lyman up.

"Heh, you say that, but who let up? You think I don't know?"

Lyman smiled, waving him off. He sat down on the dirty steps, catching his breath.

"Cough… cough, cough…"

Lyman coughed violently, even spitting up blood.

Kira just stood by, unconcerned.

For most, that would mean the end is near. But not for Lyman.

It just meant this body was dying—not necessarily the person.

After a while, Lyman wiped the blood from his lips and smiled at Kira.

"I'm about to die, aren't you worried?"

Kira shrugged, pointing at the nearby coffin, and the dried corpse inside.

"Professor's already got a corpse ready." He said. "You're not so easy to kill."

Lyman burst out laughing.

"Immortality… the alchemist's eternal dream." He shook his head. "But I'm not so lucky. This might be my last body."

"With your skills, professor, even if your body dies, your soul can live on," Kira said.

Lyman shot him a strange look.

"How do you know that?"

Kira just smiled.

Lyman had indeed made preparations. He'd attempted forbidden alchemy. When this body died, he wouldn't find a new vessel but would exist only as a soul.

His pet cat, Pharaoh, was to be his new vessel.

But he'd never told anyone, not even Kagemaru. Yet somehow, Kira knew.

"Meow~"

At that moment, Pharaoh the cat leapt into Lyman's arms, curling up contentedly.

Lyman squinted and stroked the cat, continuing to talk as if lecturing at the podium.

"Nothing gets past you. Sometimes I think you're a scary one… heh."

He said offhandedly.

"I have the idea, sure, but it's just a dying man's last attempt.

Soul immortality is something countless alchemists have tried, but has anyone ever succeeded?

I'll probably end up like them—not only failing to live forever, but maybe my soul will be destroyed too."

"You'll succeed, professor," Kira said firmly.

Lyman froze. He looked closely at Kira.

"Oh? How can you be sure?"

Because I've seen the script, Kira thought. But of course, he didn't say that. He just smiled.

"I just know."

"Because you, professor, are the greatest alchemist—unprecedented and unrepeatable."

Lyman looked up and laughed heartily.

"Let's hope so."

He took a strange book from his robes and handed it to Kira. Its cover was full of ancient, complex patterns, with an Eye of Horus in the center.

It felt like when you looked at the book, the book looked back at you.

"This is an alchemical tome left by an ancient master, recording the world's truth. I spent my life studying it. Its ultimate secret, the Philosopher's Stone, is in here.

I always sought a worthy successor."

He smiled.

"I thought this duel was a test for my successor. But now, I see—it was the king testing me… cough.

Who better to inherit this power than the Duel King?"

In truth, Kira had learned much from Lyman and alchemy. Many of his supernatural, dark powers had evolved from the alchemical teachings in this book.

He opened it, and sure enough, there was that card.

Lyman's lifelong masterpiece—the ultimate alchemy: the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

In a duel, by paying half your Life Points, it can become any card in your deck. But it's consumable—usable only three times, after which it vanishes forever.

"I have no family, nothing left to keep me here—just one thing I can't let go," Lyman said.

"Chairman Kagemaru?" Kira asked.

Lyman laughed.

"Yes." He sighed. "People change. Or maybe, people are just complicated by nature."

"Kagemaru isn't a bad guy, really.

Years ago, we once passed through a demon-occupied village. We fought with all we had to protect strangers.

But back then, we were naïve. My deck wasn't as strong, my tactics not as mature. We fought two against one, but couldn't beat that demon.

I messed up. I should have lost. I should have fallen.

But Kagemaru used his last turn to set 'Nutrient Z' for me, letting me recover 4000 Life Points and survive.

But he lost all his LP to the enemy's attack and fell."

Lyman sighed.

"And did you win?" Kira asked.

"Of course, I did." Lyman nodded. "I carried on his will and defeated the demon. We won the team battle, and Kagemaru woke up.

But as time went on, we saw he never truly recovered.

The damage from that duel made his existing health problems worse. He aged several times faster, every organ rapidly deteriorating.

A year later, he couldn't leave his wheelchair.

Two years later, he needed a life-support pod to survive."

He squinted, speaking quietly.

"Everyone knows alchemy turns stone to gold, but that's only the surface. Alchemy's true meaning is to turn the heart into something nobler and purer. But the Chairman was the opposite: his pure heart grew darker because of alchemy."

"Someday, an even greater disaster will strike this island. For that day, I had to train reliable students."

"But now that you're here, I think my mission is complete."

"Now, I can rest in peace."

He closed his eyes, lying down.

A smile still lingered on his lips.